Method and apparatus for stenciling articles



May 17, 1938. E. KILLY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STENGILING ARTICLES Filed NOV. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Eanl [filly INVENTOR.

BY M Y W ATTO EYS.

May 17, 1938. E. KlLLY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STENCILING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eat [filly INVENTOR BY M 7 ATTO EYS.

Patented May 17, v 1938 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STENCILING ARTICLES 7 Earl Killy, Toledo, Ohio, asslgnor to Libbey Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application November 17,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for applying multi-colored designs to articles of glassware such as tumblers, jars, bottles and the like, and to other articles of a vitreous or ceramic nature in the lettering or decorating thereof by a stenciling process.

The invention is primarily concerned with stenciling apparatus of the type employing a reciprocable stencil screen capable of movement relative to the article undergoing decoration and having permeable portions through which the decorating material is transferred to the article by the spreading action of a squeegee which is maintained in contact with the screen along the line of contact between the screen and article undergoing decoration. Such an apparatus is disclosed in the now pending application of Harold R. Schutz, Serial Number 96,994, filed August 20, 1936, for improvements in Stenciling apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type disclosed in the above mentioned application which will apply to the articles undergoing decoration a multicolored design or lettering by a single stenciling operation.

Heretofore, in the multi-color decoration of articles by the type of apparatus disclosed in the above mentioned application, it has been necessary to apply the multi-color design to the articles one color at a time. Where a single apparatus or machine only has been available for multi-color Work, the amount of time and labor involved (1) in substituting a separate stencil screen for each component color of the design, (2) in applying a difierent colored decorating material to each screen, (3) in baking or otherwise drying the articles between the application of the component parts of the design, (4) in stacking the articles as a step preliminary to each successive introduction thereof into the machine, (5) in successively operating the machine to apply the individual component colors of the design to the articles, and (6) in stacking the articles after each color applying operation, has made the application of multi-color designs or lettering to articles prohibitive. Accordingly, in order to lessen the time and labor involved in the multi-color decoration of articles by, the above described apparatus, it has been customary to employ a number of identical machines, each machine being designed for application of one component color of the design or lettering to the articles. Such a procedure has resulted in the decorative composition.

1936, Serial No. 111,284

elimination of the time and labor involved in making frequent alterations to the individual machines and it has resulted in a material lessening of the time involved in producing the articles by permitting the simultaneous use of a; number 5 of machines by as many different operators. The use of a plurality of machines, however, has not resulted in the elimination of the time required between decorating operations for drying Furthermore, the 10 time saved has been at the expense of labor and machinery since each decorating operation requires a separate machine and an operator therefor, besides making provision for repeated handling of the articles in transferring them from one machine to the baking ovens and from the baking ovens to the next machine. Thus, the cost of producing the articles has remained high.

In order to eliminate much of the procedure outlined above in the multi-color decoration of the articles, the present invention contemplates the provision or a self-contained dispensing squeegee assembly consisting of the usual flexible squeegee blade and mounting therefor, together with a series of'dispensing containers designed for the periodic depositing of decorating material of different colors on the stencil screen at localized areas thereon in the vicinity of the squeegee blade, the method involved consisting in the periodic simultaneous parallel spreading of the deposited coloring material across the screen and through the pervious portions thereof onto the article.

In a modified form of the invention, means is provided for preventing or for lessening the tendency of the different coloreddecorating materials to blend with each other during the spreading thereof, thus maintaining a clear line of demarcation between the component colors of the design applied to the articles. Toward this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a flexible squeegee blade designed for contact with the stencil screen during reciprocation thereof in one direction or the other to spread the difierently colored deposits of decorating material across the screen and through the pervious portions thereof, and which is provided with a series of laterally extending vanes adapted to segregate the differently colored deposits of deccrating material in their movement with the squeegee relative to the stencil screen.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will become apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. ljis a fragmentarytop plan view of a stenciling apparatus manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is' a side elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken vertically through a self-contained dispensing squeegee assembly employed in connection with the present invention, showing the same in actual decorating position in contact with a stencil screen;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of squeegee showing the same in actual decorating position in contact with a stencil screen; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view. partly in section, of the squeegee assembly shown in the preceding figure.

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is disclosed a stenciling apparatus of the type shown and described in the above mentioned application of Harold R. Schutz.

Briefly, the apparatus consists of an elongated,

substantially rectangular casting l5 provided with a recess l6 in the forward side thereof medially of its ends. Extending upwardly from thecasting i6 on opposite sides of the recess l6, are a. pair of standards or supports I! which serve to support therebetween a horizontal rock-shaft II. An article supporting assembly [9 is pivotally mounted on the rock-shaft l8 and is provided with adjustably positioned rollers 26- designed to rotatably support thereon a tumbler 'I or: like article to be decorated. A pair of forwardly 'and upwardly extending supporting members 2| are secured to the casting I5 adjacent the ends thereof and serve to support therebetween at their outer ends an;

arcuate or curved runway 22 which extends completely across the front of the apparatus.

A stencil screen assembly consisting of a rectangular frame-like carriage 23 having para'llel side bars 24, the forward ends of which are tractionally supported on the arcuate runway 22 by means of supporting wheels 25, is pivoted for horizontal oscillation about a vertical axis by means of a pair of adjustable radius arms 26, the inner ends of which are pivoted to a plate 21 which is slidably mounted on a central guide bar 28 which in turn is supported at its inner ends by a cross bar 29 extending across the standards I]. The guide bar 28 is supported medially of its ends upon a plate 30 which is maintained above the level of the casting l5 by means of a pair of tie rods 3|.

From the above description it will be seen that the stencilscreen carriage 23 is capable of oscillating movement from one side of the apparatus to a corresponding position on the other side of the apparatus. To facilitate oscillation of the carriage 23, the side bars 24 are provided with forward extensions or handles 24'. Upon oscillation of the carriage 23, the wheels 25 describe an are on the surface of the runway 22, the radius of curvature of which arc is dependent upon the length of the adjustable radius arms 26. The runway 22 is of suflicient width that the wheels 25 will not run over the edge thereof when the plate 21 is properly adjusted on the central guide bar 28.

A stencil screen frame 32 (Fig. 4) is suspended from the carriage 23 and is movable therewith. A fiat horizontal stencil screen S is secured to the underneath side of the frame 32 in any suitable manner, as for example, by gluing. The tumbler oscillated from one side of the apparatus to the other. The screen, S is provided with pervious portions 33 representing the design to be applied to the tumbler T positioned on the article supporting rollers 20.

A transversely extending rock-shaft 36 is supported between guides 35 formed on the upper ends of the standards II. A squeegee arm 36 is integrally formed on a sleeve 31 mounted on the rock-shaft 34 and extends forwardly therefrom and overlies the stencil screen carriage 23. The squeegee arm 36 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending parallel flanges 38 (Fig. 4) medially of its ends, and a squeegee S (Fig. 3) is suspended between the flanges 38 by means of a pin 39 which extends centrally through the upper portion of the squeegee.

The free end of the squeegee arm 36 extends downwardly and is guided in a slot 46 provided in a guide plate 4| supported centrally on the arcuate runway 22. A handle 62 is secured to the forward end of the squeegee arm 36 and projects forwardly of the apparatus to a point within convenient reach of the operator thereof. screw 63 extends throughthe handle 42 and bears An adjusting.

against the guide plate II to support the forward one direction or the other, depending uponthe' direction of movement of the screen.

In carrying out the method of applying a multicolored decoration to the tumbler T, small quantitties of differently colored decorating materials which are preferably of a vitreous enamel composition, are placed upon the screen in the vicinity of the squeegee and in the path thereof across the surface of the screen as the latter oscillates. The colors chosen for the decoration, represented by the pervious portions 33 of the screen are, of course, arbitrary and depend upon the nature of the design being applied to the tumblers T. In the present instance, since the, design is in the nature of a flower (Fig. 4), the color pink has been selected forfthe flower petals, the color green for the' leaves orfoliage thereof, and the color 'brown for the stem. Accordingly, deposits of decorating material designated as I and b of the three colors just named are placed on the screen S near the squeegee S in line with the respective parts of the decoration to which they are to be applied. As the screen S is inoved beneath the squeegee S during oscillation thereof, the deposits p, g and b are prevented by the squeegee from following the movement of the screen and are thus forced by thesqueegee through the interstices of the pervious portions 34 thereof and onto the article. The deposits 1 g and b, in their relative movements across the surface of the screen are confined to respective zones of contact with the screen as indicated at P. G and B respectively. a

Upon completion of each stenciling operation, it is necessary that the squeegee be elevated from the enamel composition on the screen to clear the same prior to movement of the screen to its extreme position so that upon lowering of the squeegee into contact with the screen, prior to return movement of the latter, the enamel composition will occupy a position on the screen in advance of the squeegee. This clearing operation may be left to the skill and judgment of the operator who may, by engaging the handle 42, elevate the squeegee S prior to movement of the screen S to either of its limiting positions. If desired, the clearing operation may be facilitated by the provision of an adjustable stopmechanism for arresting the oscillating movement of the carriage at the completion of each decorating operation. Such a stop mechanism is shown and described in the above mentioned application of Harold R. Schutz. However, regardless of the manner in which this clearing operation is performed, the essential features of the multi-color decorating process are not altered. After the squeegee has cleared the difierently colored enamel deposits on the screen and is again lowered into contact with the screen, prior to return movement of the screen, the squeegee will occupy a position behind the enamel composition and, upon such movement of the screen, the deposits p, g and b will be confined to their respective zones P, G and B and will be forced through the pervious portions of the screen and onto the next succeeding article placed in the machine.

It is to be noted that upon elevation of the squeegee arm 36, the squeegee S which is sus-- pended therefrom assumes a horizontal position of stable equilibrium as shown in Fig. 5, thus reducing the tendency of enamel composition of one color adhering to the squeegee from running into or blending with enamel composition of another color similarly adhering to the squeegee. Furthermore, by such an arrangement, the tendency of the enamel composition adhering to the squeegee to drip from the squeegee onto the screen is reduced to a minimum.

In the above mentioned application of Harold R. Schutz, means is disclosed for lowering the pivoted article supporting assembly i9 as the screen carriage 23 approaches the end of its stroke in either direction. A portion of the mechanism for accomplishing this lowering of the supporting assembly i9 is disclosed in the present application and consists of a latch engaging arm M carried by the assembly E9 together with a cooperating latch member in the form of a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on a horizontal rock-shaft 66 carried between the supports i'l. Normally, the assembly is is held in its elevated position by cooperation between the latch engaging arm M and its counterpart, the latch member #5. Upon elevation of the squeegee arm 36, the latch member 35 is withdrawn from the path of the arm 44 in order that the assembly i9 may drop by gravity toits lowered position. The automatic trip mechanism for moving the latch M from engagement with the arm M has not been disclosed in this application as it forms no part of the present invention. For a full disclosure thereof, reference may be had to the application of Harold R. Schutz identified above. This trip mechanism or any other suitable mechanism for lowering the article supporting carriage id in order that the operator may substitute an undecoratecl article in the machine may be employed if desired.

In the application of the design to successive articles with the squeegee mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5, after the deposits 11, g and b have been placed on the screen S, during the first several oscillations of the screen S, the zones P, G and B in which the respective deposits '1), g and b are confined, remain fairly distinct. However, as additional decorating operations are performed, repeated agitation of the decorating material on the screen S causes a blending of the colors thereof in the vicinity of the boundaries between the respective zones. In other words, the natural tendency of the deposits p, g and b to widen with each movement of the screen therebeneath causes a blending or merging of the various colors of the deposits and this blending or merging thereof is carried into the the design which is applied to the article. Where the design is in the nature of a flower or isof a character that does not require sharply defined zones of color application, this blending of the component colors of the design is highly deslr-.

able as it produces a design that 'more closely approximates natural color variations.

Under certain conditions, where sharply contrasting zones of color application are required, the invention contemplates the provision of a.

squeegee assembly wherein means is provided for expressly preventing any intermingling or blending of the adjacent color deposits on the screen S. Furthermore, means is provided for facilitating accurate placing of the deposits of coloring material on the screen in their respective zones of color application to the'screen. Toward this end, the squeegee S" shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending vanes 41 the lower edges of which occupy a common plane with the plane of the lower edge of the squeegee blade. While any number of these vanes 41 may be employed, in the present instance five such vanes are shown as defining therebetween four zones of color application A, B, C and D. In order that the deposits at, b, c and d representing the colors to be applied to the tumblers T may be accurately placed on the screen within their respective zones of application and in order to generally facilitate such application thereof, a plurality of dispensing containers 48 are secured to the squeegee arm 36 and are supported thereby. Each of the containers 48 is adapted to contain an enamel composition of a color corresponding to a color of the design to be applied to the tumblers T. Ea'ch container 48 is provided with a discharge each container. Plungers 5| extend through the closures 50 and serve upon manual actuation thereof to eject coloring material from the contains 48 onto the screen. Since one or two grams of coloring material is sufiicient for each application to the screen, slight manual pressure on the plungers 5| will cause the proper amount of material to be ejected from the containers 48.

In the application of the design to the tumblers T, the stencil screen is oscillated in the manner previously described. The vanes 41 form recesses or pockets 52 therebetween which are in alignment with the respective zones of application A, B, C and D. The deposits 0, b, c and d are confined within their respective pockets 52 during movement of the screen beneath the squeegee S,

the vanes 47 serving to prevent blending of the adjacent color deposits. Thus the sharp line of distinction that is maintained between the zones of color application A, B, C and D is carried into the design and the component parts of the design remain in contrast to each other.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with a stenciling apparatus of the type disclosed in the application of Harold R. Schutz, above identified, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is applicable to any manner of stenciling apparatus in which decorating material is forced through the interstices of a mesh screen or through an open stencil by the spreading action of a squeegee.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a stenciling apparatus, the combination with a stencil screen having pervious portions representinga design to be applied toan article, of a squeegee therefor in the form of an elon.

gated strip of resilient material having a lower edge designed to make traveling line contact with said screen upon relative movement between said screen and squeegee, there being pockets in one side of said strip of material in which deposits of decorating material of a difierent. nature are adapted to be confined during-such relative moveso "m 2. In-a stencili'ngapparatus, the combination of a squeegeeitherefor in the, form of an elongated stripof resilient material having, a lower *edge'designed to make traveling line contact withsaid screen uponrelativeoscillation between said v screen-and squeegeethere'being pockets-formed l -:-on opposite-sides-of'said strip of material inwhicht' 4odeposits-of"decorating material of a different ina- "-ture' are adapte'dto be confined during such rela 'tive oscillation.

3. 111a stenciling apparatus, the combination ,wlth a stencil-screen having pervious-portions representing-a designto be'applied to an article,

oflaf squeegee therefor in the 'form of an elongated strip of resilient material 'having a lower edge designed to make travelingline contact with said screen upon, relative movement between said representing a design to be applied to an article,

of a squeegee. therefor in the form of an elongated strip of resilient material'having a lower edge designedto make traveling line contact with screen.

anus? squeegee for confining deposits of coloring material to independent parallel zones of movement across the-screen upon being impelled by said squeegee.

6. In a stenciling apparatus, a stencil screen having pervious portions representing the design to be applied to an article, a squeegee adapted to impel coloring material across said screen, means for moving said squeegee and screen relative to each other, means for depositing quantities of differently colored decorating material on said screen in the path of movement of said squeegee, and means formed on said squeegee for confining said deposited quantities of coloring material to independent zones of movement across said 7. In a stenciling having pervious portions representing the design to be applied to an article, a squeegee adapted to impel coloring material across said screen, means for moving said squeegee and screen relative to-each other, and a plurality of vanes formed on said squeegee for confining said deposited quantities of. decorating material to independent parallel :zones of movement across said screen upon-being impelled by said squeegee.

'8. Ida stenciling apparatus, a stencil screen having pervious portions representing the design to be applied to an article, a squeegee adapted to impelcoloring material across said screen, means for movingsaid squeegee and screen relative to each other, and means carried by said squeegee for depositing quantities of differently colored decorating material on said screen in the path of 'movement of said squeegee.

apparatus, a stencil screen 9. In a stenciling apparatus, a stencil'screen having pervious portions representing the design to be applied to an article, a squeegee adapted to impel coloring material across said screen, means for moving said squeegee and screen relative to each other, and a plurality of containers mounted on said squeegee, said containers being adapted to contain decorating materials of a different nature, and means for discharging decorating material from saidcontainers onto said screen at different regions in the vicinity of said squeegee. 1

EARL KILLY. 

